All The Small Things You Do | Katie McCabe.

Shoulder go boom.

Tatum jogged back out on the pitch after halftime, fulfilling her need to do her usual superstition - Turning backwards and jogging backwards onto the pitch, something she's always done and has became a superstition for her.

It was the first game back since the Euro's and you can tell as much. One, because of how much louder the crowd were being. And two, because all the girls just looked that tiny bit off a step, likely still recovering from the tournament. A few too many loose balls, too many sloppy tackles, too many wasted chances.

The other girls lined up, and the opposition kicked off. Tatum took a minute to see how the opposition shifted in position, evaluating their change in tactics from the kick off. After she had grasped the change, she increased the pace off her jog and began marking in her zone, helping her teammates form the typical triangles to apply pressure. She watched as the defenders pushed so high, they were inside Barcelona's half.

She watched as Ingrid won the ball back and immiedly played a calm ball out to Keira who straight away lifted her head up. Tatum knew there was a gap, and she knew she was fast enough to exploit it. "KEI!" She yelled and lifted her arm and pointed up and set off on a sprint, trusting Keira to play her onside. She breezed past the defensive line and glanced up, keeping her eye on the ball as it began coming down. Turning on her heels she killed the ball off as it landed on her foot, cushioned and calm before flicking it over her own head and allowed herself to turn and carry on the run, getting back on the ball.

She sprinted as quick as she could with the ball at her feet, keeping it under control the whole time. She could hear the shouts of man on and she knew the defenders would be coming back in numbers. Spotting that the keeper was slightly out of position, she decided to stick her foot through it, knowing if she hit it right, she could beat her.

But she didn't catch it quite how she'd like. Instead jumping on the spot in annoyance as she watched the goalie get a hand on it and push the ball out of play for a corner.

"Unluckyyyy." Mapi shouted with a laugh as she ran past Tatum to get in the box.

Tatum rolled her eyes but also got into her position, hovering around the back post.

She watched the ball come in and bounced on her toes, ready to jump in the air. As it flew over the heads of the other girls, she jumped up to attempt to get her head on it but was immedtly flooded with pain in her head as she felt another collide with her. The force of the opponents body lunging against her in the air forced Tatum down quickly. The pain in her head brough immedite dizziness so when she landed on her feet and attempted to stand up, she felt the opponents body still pushing into her, and with how dizzy she felt, she was unable to land correctly and instead went full force into the goalpost with her shoulder.

Straight away she felt the pain in her body, she didn't know if it was more in her head or her shoulder. All she knew was that as she lay face down on the grass her legs kicking the ground in frustration, was that she was in agony. "Fuck, fuck fuck." She groaned out.

She felt a hand touch her lower back and pull the back off her top down to cover her properly as they knelt down next to her.

"Tatum?" She heard Mapi's voice through the ringing that was currently in her ears. "Stay there, okay? No move." Mapi spoke in broken English, knowing that Tatum wouldn't be able to translate right now.

Tatum however, didn't even register her friends words, instead forcing herself to roll on her back, her unhurt arm immediately clutching her sore shoulder. She felt wetness on her face before eventually tasting it on her lips; the unforgettable taste of blood. "Fuck. They coming, okay?" Mapi reassured. She went by Tatum's head and trapped the girls head still between her knee's as she knelt down, forcing her to keep her head still. Tatum lay their groaning with her eyes shut as she tried to breathe through the pain but she was aware of something being placed on her head, right on the bleeding wound causing her to wince. "Stay still!" Mapi complained.

Tatum was vaguely aware of other bodies no surrounded her, some just tapping her leg to let her know they were there, some kneeling down around her.

Tatum could feel her eyes drooping down. The pain was exhausting her. It was getting harder to keep them open, even though she could her the medics instructing her to do so. She could feel an oxygen mask being placed on her before she felt a stretcher slip under her.

Not how she envisioned this season to start off.

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"I mean really, TK, who dislocates their shoulder in a football match? Stupid." Alexia said with a small laugh as their pair walked into Tatum's apartment.

Tatum had been informed by the medics that she had dislocated her shoulder and required stitches on her head, so had been taken to the hospital, accompanied by Alexia who still wasn't playing. The older player had been there as soon as Tatum reached the medical room, immediately holding her hand as they checked her over. When they were at the hospital itself, Alexia had to act as translator, Tatum still not in a place to be able to convert it to translate it effectively.

The stitches were first, which Tatum didn't think were too bad. Alexia did not find it funny when Tatum had advised her that chicks love scars.

Too soon, apparently.

Then came resetting her shoulder. That was not fun. She already had a pounding in her head, which was only ampified when the blood rushed through her body caused by the pain of her shoulder being forced back into it's socket. The noise was worse though, Tatum turning white as soon as the loud clicking noise echoed from her body. Alexia made sure she got a picture of that with the hand that wasn't being squeezed with all the midfielders strength.

Alexia had agreed to stay with Tatum for the night for concussion protocol. Tatum had also refused any stronger painkillers than paracetamol. Her dad was an addict, it was imbedded into her that she never wanted to risk getting addicted and following in his footsteps.

"Can you take the piss tomorrow, please?" Tatum groaned as she threw herself down on her couch, laying her head on the back.

Alexia approached the couch from behind and ran her hand gently over Tatum's forehead.

"Si."

Tatum opened one eye a tad. "And maybe...I could have a glass of water too?" She said with a cheeky smile.

"I am not your slave, you know this?" Alexia replied.

"But i'm injured and in pain and the kitchen is so far." Tatum replied with a pout.

Alexia rolled her eyes but gave Tatum's head one last gentle rub before going into the kitchen.

Tatum didn't have to wait long before she could hear Alexia's footsteps even over the ringing in her ear. Considering she's like a ballerina on the ball, the girl is really flat footed. Before Alexia reached Tatum, they both turned their heads at the soft knock on the door.

A second past before Alexia laughed. "I'll get it then, si?"

"You're too good to me." Tatum replied and blew a half assed kiss to Alexia as the older girl went to the door and Tatum turned her attention to turning her TV on.

After loading up Netflix and putting on CSI, she hesitated on pressing play as she could hear Alexia's soft voice. "Ale? Who is it?"

Alexia didn't respond, but a minute later Tatum heard the tell tale signs of Alexia's heavy footsteps accompanied by another set of of steps.

"You have a visitor." Alexia spoke.

Tatum turned her head in curiosity, wincing as she did it way to quick.

"What did you do that for? Idiot." A familiar accent scorned as the two girls watched the pain take over Tatum's face.

"This stalking is getting next level, McCabe."